NASA Extends 9 Space Observatory Missions

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WASHINGTON — Nine NASA-funded astrophysics missions, including
the planet-hunting Kepler space telescope and Chandra X-ray
Observatory, will continue scanning the heavens for at least
another two to four years, the U.S. space agency announced April
3.

NASA’s decision to extend the science operations for nine of its
14 in-orbit missions largely follows the recommendations of an
outside panel of senior scientists that convened in late February
to weigh the scientific merits of keeping these missions in
service.

Senior reviews for operating
NASA science missions take place every two years. Scientists
are charged with determining which missions are likely to
generate the most "science per dollar" if they are approved to
continue operating after their primary missions are complete.

The last senior review for operating astrophysics missions, held
in 2010, recommended the termination or phase out of the five
lowest-ranked missions, including the Wide-field Infrared Survey
Explorer, which was finally turned off
early last year.

This year’s senior review, chaired by University of Michigan
astronomy professor Joel Bregman, opted not to rank the
nine astrophysics missions up for review.

"After considerable discussion, the committee concluded that a
simple ranking of this sort is not adequate," the committee wrote
in its report.

The committee noted that because no major astrophysics missions
have been green-lighted after the massively overbudget flagship
James Webb Space Telescope, which is expected to launch in
2018, much of NASA’s astrophysics research depends on existing
missions.

"This reality, along with the challenging fiscal situation facing
Federal science agencies, places greater emphasis on utilizing
existing missions wisely, as well as finding strategies for
reducing costs while not sacrificing the most important
capabilities," the committee wrote.

In addition to Kepler and Chandra — which the committee
recommended NASA keep in service through 2016 — the other
astrophysics missions that have been cleared for continued
operations are:

the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, launched in 2008.

the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), launched in 1990 but last
refurbished in 2009.

the Warm Spitzer Space Telescope Mission, which has been
operating since 2009 without the coolant that kept its infrared
instruments chilled for its first five-and-a-half years in orbit.

XMM-Newton, a European X-ray observatory launched in 1999.

"These nine missions comprise an extremely strong ensemble to
enter the Senior Review process and we find that all are making
very significant scientific contributions," wrote the 12-member
committee that conducted the 2012 Senior Review of Operating
Missions in the NASA Astrophysics Division.

The committee shot down a proposal to increase Hubble’s funding
above its $95 million per year level and urged NASA to find ways
to cut costs.

"To keep [Hubble] operating while maintaining the overall balance
of
NASA’s astrophysics program it will be necessary to seek
further cost reductions, even at the expense of some observing
efficiency," the committee wrote.

In a short statement posted on the NASA Science Mission
Directorate’s website, NASA said that HST operations will
continue "at their currently funded levels."

NASA also approved extending Fermi’s operations through 2016 but
with a 10 percent per year funding reduction beginning in
2014.Two missions, Suzaku and XMM, were singled out as having
"critically low funding." In addition, the Swift mission was
characterized as "poorly funded," a less dire circumstance than
"critically low," according to the report.

NASA, in response, approved continued support of Suzaku
operations until March 2015 to provide a one-year overlap with
Japan’s follow-on Astro-H mission. Funding for U.S. support of
XMM-Newton was also extended through March 2015 and Swift was
approved to continue through 2016 with additional funding for
data analysis.

Spitzer’s operations, meanwhile, will continue through 2014 with
closeout in 2015, according to the NASA statement.

NASA said that all decisions to continue operations through 2015
and beyond will be revisited during the next senior review in
2014.

This article was provided by Space News, dedicated to covering all
aspects of the space industry.